The factors involved in a typical coastal Hydrologic and Hydraulic analysis include:

Coastal Storm Surge Analysis—Storm surge is the amount of water, combined with the effect of normal tides, that is pushed towards the shore during a storm. The height of the surge is driven by many variables, including the strength and size of the storm, and the speed and direction in which the storm moves. A storm surge Stillwater Elevation (SWEL) model is used in a coastal analysis when supported by the history of storms in the area.

Wave Setup Analysis—Is the increase in water level caused by waves breaking ashore during a storm. This is affected by the height of the waves, the speed at which waves approach the shore, and the slope of the underwater ground near the shore.

Wave Runup - Overland Wave Modeling —Typically, the Wave Height Analysis for Flood Insurance Studies (WHAFIS) model is used which considers water depth, wind speed, vegetative cover, building density, and other factors to predict how the waves run up on the shore and help determine accurate coastal BFEs and flood zone boundaries.